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Draft Resolution on UN Force for Palestinians Sponsored
Seven members of the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday sponsored a draft resolution, calling for establishment and deployment of a UN mission in the West Bank and Gaza strip to protect Palestinians in the occupied territories.
The draft resolution, proposed by Bangladesh, Colombia, Jamaica, Mali, Mauritius, Singapore and Tunisia who belong to the Nonaligned Movement, expresses the Security Council's determination to establish a UN force of military and police observers to be dispatched throughout the territories occupied by Israel since 1967.
It also calls for the immediate cessation of violence and excessive use of force (by Israel).
The draft resolution voices support for a resumption of the Middle East peace process.
Backed by the Nonaligned Movement, the Palestinians are expected to seek a council vote on the draft resolution before the Arab League Summit to be held on March 27 to 28 in Amman, Jordan.
The Security Council rejected in December 8 a draft resolution demanding the deployment of such a UN force in the occupied Palestinians territories. The draft resolution failed to pass the 15-member council as only eight members voted in favor. The other seven members abstained. The result was one vote shy of the minimum votes for passage.
More than 400 people, mostly Palestinians, have been killed since the violence erupted last September which was prompted by a visit of then Israel's opposition leader Ariel Sharon to a Jerusalem holy shrine.
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